Conveyer mechanism



C. LlTTLEFlEL'D CONVEYER MECHANISM Filed March 12, 1932 April 4, 1933.

3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Carl Ll'frlefie Id BY ATTORNEz Ap i c. LITTLEFIELD 1,

CONVEYER MECHANISM Filed March 12, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 T ij. Z.

INVENTOR Carl Lirrleficld ATTORNEYS April 4, 1933. .c. LITTLEFIELD CONVEYER MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 12', I 1932 INVENTOR Carl Llrrlcheld BY -6 A'lTdRNEys Patented Apr. 4, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE].

CARL LITTLEFIELD, or BATTLE CREEK, MIcHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T TBA'I'TLE CR K 1 BREAD WRAPPING MACHINECQMPANY, orBAr'rLE-cnEnx, MICHIGAN.

CONVEYER MECHANISM Application filed March 12, 1932. Serial No. 598,492.

chanically transferring articles such as sliced loaves from a delivering means such as a slicing machine to receiving means such as a wrapping machine.

Second, to provide feed mechanism for transferring sliced loaves individually from one machine to another with a rolling action of the transfer members in the direction of movement thereof and a slightly compressive action for closing the spaces between the slices.

Third, to provide means whereby the feeding mechanism is only actuated when an article to be transferred is delivered thereto.

Fourth, to provide a mechanism of this type that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and effective and positive in operation.

Fifth, to provide means for translating articles such as sliced loaves without displacing the slices or injuring or crushing the loaves.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A' structure which is a practical embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of feed mechanism embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus partially broken away and showing parts in horizontal section.

Fig. 3 isan enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the mechanism.

Fig. dis a diagrammatic representation illustrating the operation of the feed mechanism. q q I In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my improvements embodied or adapted for use in connection with a slicing machine forslicing loaves of bread and a wrapping machine for wrapping the sliced loaves. Only such portions of these machines are illustrated as are deemed necese sary to illustrate a practical embodiment of my improvements. v

1' represents a slicing machine and. 2a wrapping machine. One of the sliced loaves is shown at 3. Thesliced loaves are delivwhich the articles are propelled by theflights 9 carried by the endless conveyer chains 10.

The grippers position the articles on the conveyer way so that they arepicked up and moved along on the way by the flights and between the side rails or guides 111. y

The grippers are preferably of oval shape and are-mounted for a combined planetary and rotative movement so that they gripthe ends of the articles to be translated, much as a pair of hands, and carrythem along without materially varying or increasing the gripping pressure and at the same time main-' taining such pressure that articles such as sliced loaves may beeifectively, handled.

The driving means for'the grippers is con:

trolled by the articles 3 which, as 'they'are fed on to the table, engage the trippingtrigger 17. This driving means in the mecha-.

nism illustrated comprises'a shaft 12 pro vided at its outer end with a slip friction drive 13. The slip friction drive is in turn connected to and driven by thecontinuou'sly driven chain belt 14:, the power means not being illustrated. Y 5 a V The slip friction drive 13 is provided with an engaging pawl 15' which iscontrolled by the tappet 16 mounted on a rock-shaft 23 and normally lying in the path ofthe slip friction drive pawl sothat the slip friction drive is disengaged at the endofi eachcycle l of movement unless there should be a continuous feeding of articles to-be'wrapped under the feed table. In. other words, the feeding of the articles on to the feed table controls the clutch. I u p Thiscontrol means consists of trips 17 projecting through-the feed table inposi-f '30 .cles,:sothat the latter are gripped with a tion to be engaged by the articles moved forwardly thereon. The trips are carried by the rockshaft 18 having" the eccentrically disposed cranks l9 thereon engaging the lever 20 which is connected by the link 21 to the arm 22 on the rockshaft 23 so that actuation of the trip withdraws the tappet from pawl engaging position and engages the slip friction drive or allows it to engage.

mounted on the vertical spindles 24 above the stationary gears 25. connected to and driven by the drive shaft 12 through the beveled gears 27 and 28. 'The fgrippers'tare j ournaled' on the outer ends of the arms 26 and are provided with pinions '29 :meshing with the stationary gears so that i are engaged by the grippers with a rolling action 'inthedirection of movement thereof and in the direction of movement of the artisuita'bIepressure. Owing to the shape of the grippers this pressure is substantially constant during the translating movement of thearticle and, while the articles are efiectively gripped, delicate articles such as V loaves. of: bread are not injuriously compressed, and sliced loaves of bread 'may be handled. without likelihoodof the slices beingdisplaced. After the loaveshave been wrapped by the wrappin'gmachine2 they 7 are discharged by the conveyer indicated The latter: are adapted to be moved through generally'by the numeral 31. t

The oval shape of thegrippe'rs 7 is best illustrated by Figs. 2jand 4, These figures also clearly illustrate the simultaneous rolliaig and 'gripping' actions of:the grippers.

air-complete cycle of'ope'ration every-time the trigger-17 is actuated. When 'thepcycle is:

completed, ifanother loaf "is not presented so as to actuate the trigger 17 again, the tappet '16' in the path of the pawl 15 operatesfto iop'en the slip friction drive 13 to disconnect the driving means from th d i shaftlQh' V 'Theoval-grippers'arepivoted oif center sothat the sliced loaves 3 are initially engagedI by the surfaceof' the grippers ata short radius from their centers. As the grippers are rotated about their fixed axes and; alsov about their revolving axes in the direction of thearticle being transferred or fed,-the; surface of the grippers rolls over theends of the l'oaf'until the latter has'been .out undue or excessive pressure on the loaf.

The l l is are carried by arms-'26 These arms are 7 transferred to the way member 11. The

shape of the oval members 7 is such that the ends of the loaf are gripped positively,

throughout the entire gripping cycle with a For this purpose the grippers are covered with the soft rubber facings 30 which absorb any slight variations in pressure on the loaf bythe grippers.

By virtue of thegear ratio between the pinions '29 and the stationary gears 25, the operationof the feed mechanism is relatively quick compared to the operation of the drive shaft 12. This is desirable for the reason that the sliced loaves are moved out of the Way. of succeeding loaves being discharged by the slicingmachine 1, and also for the reason. that the sliced loaves must be placed relatively quickly between the flights'9 of the conveyer 10 of the wrapping machine to prevent damage to the loaves.

I have illustrated and described my, improvements in a practical embodiment and,

as stated, in association with a slicing machineand bread wrapping machine. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe va' rious other adaptations or uses of which my invention is capable as it is believed that this disclosure willenable those. skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may bedesi-red.

7 Having thus described myinvention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. In an apparatus of theclass described,

theccmbinationwith a conveyer way,.of an fer means operatively associated with said feed table and comprising oval rotary grippers 1 having resilient faoings, rotatab-ly mounted arms on which said gripper mem-. bers are rotatively mounted disposed so that the grippers engage the ends of the articles I on said feedtable and deliver thesame to said conveyer way, stationary gears, said grippers having pinions meshing with said gears whereby saidgrippers are simultaneously given a planetary and rotating move ment upon the actuation of said arms, driving means for said arms including a rotatable slip friction drive member, atappet for I releasing said'slip friction drive member at a predetermined pomt 111 its rotation, and

trip means for said tappetcon'trolled by the articles: delivered to said' table. r 2; In an apparatus of he class the'comb'ination with a conveyer way, of an endless conveyer providedwith flights operdescribed, i

atively associated with said Way for propelling articles along the way, a feed table disposed at the front end of said conveyer way,

a delivery table disposed to deliver to'said feed table and provided with guide members for supporting and guiding the articles as they are delivered to said feed table,- transfer means operatively associated with said feed table and comprising oval rotary grippers having resilient .facings, rotatably mounted arms on which said gripper members are rotatively mounted disposed so that the grippers engage the ends of the articles on said feed table and deliver the same to said conveyer way, stationary gears, said grippers having pinions meshing with said gears whereby said grippers are simultaneously given a planetary and rotating movement upon the actuation of said arms, drivingmeans for said arms including a slip friction drive, and control means for said slip friction drive actuated by the articles delivered to said table.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a conveyer way, of an endless conveyer provided with flights operatively associated with saidway for propelling articles along the way, a feed table disposed at the front end of said conveyer way,

a delivery table disposed to deliver to said feed table and provided withguide members for supporting an guiding the articles as they'are delivered to said feedable, transfer means operatively associated with said feed table and comprising oval rotary grippers having resilient facings, rotatably mounted arms on which said gripper members are rotatively mounted disposed so that the grippers engage the ends of the articles on said feed table and deliver the same to said conveyerway, and stationary gears, said grippers having pinions meshing with said gears whereby said grippers are simultaneously given a planetary and rotating movement upon the actuation of said arms.

4. In an apparatus of theclass described, the combination with a conveyer way, of an endless conveyer provided with flights operatively associated with said way for propelling articles along the way, a feed' table disposed at the front end of said conveyer way, a delivery means disposed to deliver to said feed table and provided with guide members for supporting and guiding the articles as they are delivered to said feed table, transfer means operatively associated with said feed table and comprising rotaryv grippers, arms on which said gripper members are rotatively mounted disposed so that the grippers engage the ends of the articles on said feed table and deliver the same to said conveyer way, means for swinging said arms and simultaneously rotating said grippers including a slip friction drive member, a tappet for releasing said slip friction drive member, and trip means for said tappet controlled by the articles delivered to said table.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a conveyer way,of an endless conveyer provided with flights operatively associated with said way for propelling articlesalong theway, a feed table disposed at the front end of said conveyer way, a deliverymeans disposed to deliver to said feed table and provided with guide members for supporting and guiding the articles as they are delivered to said feed table, transfer means operatively associated with said feed table and comprising rotary grippers, arms on which said grippers are rotatively mounted disposed so that the grippers engage the ends of-the articles on said feed table and deliver the same to said conveyer way, means for swinging said armsand simultaneously rotating said grippers including a s ip friction drive, and control means for said slip friction drive actuated by the articles deliveredto said table.

6. In an apparatus ofthe class described, the combination with a conveyer way, of an endless conveyer provided with flights operatively associated with said way for propelling articles along the way, a feed table disposed at'the front end of said conveyer way, a delivery means disposed to deliver to said feed table and provided with guide members for supporting and guiding the articles as they are delivered tov said feed table, transfer means operatively associated with said feed table and comprising rotary grippers of oval section, arms on which said grippers are rotatively mounted disposed so that the grippers engage the ends of the articles on said feed table and deliver the same to said conveyer way, and means for swinging said arms on fixed axes and simultaneously rotating said individual grippers. 7. In an apparatus of the .class described,

the combination with a conveyer way, of an 7 j endless conveyer provided with flights op eratively associated with said way for propelling articles along the way, a feed table disposed at the front. end oft-said conveyer way, a delivery means disposed to deliver] to said feed table and provided with guide members for supporting and guiding the articlesas' they are delivered to saidfeed table, transfer means operatively associated with said feed table and comprising grippers mountedfor simultaneous planetary and rotating. movement, driving, means for said grippersincluding a rotatable slip friction drive member, a tappet for ,releasing said; 7

clutch at a predetermined point in its rotation, and trip means for saidtappet con-y trolled by the articles delivered to said table.

8. In an apparatus ofthe class described, the combination with a conveyer way, of an endless conveyer provided withzflightsop eratively associated with said way for pros pelling' articles along the way, a feed table disposed at the front end of said conveyer way, a delivery means disposed to deliver to said feed table and provided with guide members'for supporting and guiding the articles as they are delivered to saidfeed table, and transfer means operatively associated with said feed table and comprising grippers of oval section mounted and driven for simultaneous planetaryand rotating movement about fixed and rotating axes.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a conveyer way, of an endless conveyer provided with flights oper atively associated with said way for propelling articles along the way, a feed table disposed at the front end of said conveyer way, a delivery means disposed to deliver to said feed. table and provided with guide members for supporting and guiding the ar ticles as they are delivered to said table, transfer means operatively associated with saidfeed table and comprising rotary oval grippers having soft resilient facings mounted and driven for simultaneous planetary and rotating movement.

, 10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a feed table, transfer means operatively associated'with said feed table and comprising rotary grippers, r0- tativ ely mounted arms on which said gripper menibers are rotatively mounted disposed so that the grippers engage theends of tie ,articleson said feed table and deliver the same to saidconveyer, stationary gears, said grippers having pinions meshing with said gears'whereby said grippers are simultaneously given a planetary and rotatingmovement .upon the actuation of the said arms,

driving means for said arms including a rotatable slip friction drive member, a 'tappet for releasing said slip friction drive member at a predetermined point in its rotation, and trip'means for saidtappet controlledby the artiples' delivered to said table.

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a feed table, transfer 1meaii soperativelyv associated with said feed a table 7 and comprising rotary grippers, rota- 7 given a planetary and rotating movementv tively mounted arms on which said gr pper members arerotatively mounted disposed so that the grippers engage the ends-of the articles on said feed table and deliver the same to'said conveyer, stationary gears, said grippers having pinions meshing with said gears whereby said grippers are simultaneously upon the actuation of said arms.

12,111 an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a a feed table, transfer means operatively associated with said feed table and comprising grippers. mounted for simultaneousplanetary and rotating movement, driving means for said grippers in;

eluding a slip friction drive, means for areleasing said slipfri'ction drive at the end 'of each cycle, and control'means for said releasing means controlled by the articles delivered to said table.

13. In an apparatus of the class (ilescribed,

the combination of a feed tablejtransfer means operatively associated wlth said feed table and comprising grippers of-oval, section mounted for simultaneous planetary and rotating movement. 7 4. In an apparatus of the class" described,

the combination of a feed table, transfer 7 means operatively associated with said feed table and comprising oval grippers having soft resilient facin-gs mounted for simultan'eous planetary and rotating movement.

15. In a bread wrapping machine, thecome bination with means for delivering sliced loaves and means for receiving said sliced loaves, of means for transferring said 'jsliced loaves from said delivery to said receiving means comprising spaced rotary grippers faced with soft resilient material adapted to engage the ends of said sliced .loaves and loaves and jmeans for receiving said sliced loaves, of means for transferring said sliced loaves from, said delivery to said receiving means comprising spaced gripping members adapted to engage the ends'of said sliced loaves and move said loavesbetween them,

loaves, of means for transferring said sliced loaves from said delivery tosaid receiving means comprising spaced rotary gripping members of oval sectionfaced with softresilient material adapted to engagev the ends of said sliced loaves and move said loaves between them, and means for rotating said .members whereby said sliced loaves are transferred by the rolling action of said members loaves together the transferring operation. 18. In adevice of the class described, the

combination witha pairof spaced rotary ,which tends tocompress the slices ofsaid gripping members adapted to rotate about 1 fixed parallel axes and simult l about.

their own rotating aXes, and means-for operhand. 7

CARL LITTLEFIELD. 

